Setts



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. H. GRIFFIN.

RACEWAY FOE ROTARY SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES.

No. 392,795. Patented Nov. 13, 1888-.

Wifnesses:

1 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. GRIFFIN. RACEWAY FOR ROTARY SEWING MACHINE SHUTTLES.

No. 392,795. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

Fig.4.

WITNESSES. l \/r: TU w w N4 PETERS PhMmLllhbgrlpher.Washingloll. n. c.

UNITED STATES Parent Orrircn.

JOHN H. GRIFFIN, OF BROOKTON, ASSIGNOR OF TWOTHIRDS TO GEORGE WV. BROWVN AND CHARLES H. BAYLEY, BOTH OF BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS.

RACEWAY FOR ROTARY SEWING -MACHINE SHUTTLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,795, dated November 13, 1888.

Serial No. 242,641. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. GRIFFIN, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular Shuttle- Races for Sewing-llfachines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary shuttleraces having circular flanges between which IO the rotary shuttle moves.

The object of the invention is to provide improved means for varying the distance between said flanges to compensate for wear of the shuttle and of the fianges,so that the flanges 1 may be kept properly bearing on the shuttle and will not permit the shuttle such freedom of lateral movement as would make its beak or hook liable to strike and break the needle.

It is also the object of the invention to provideimproved means whereby the shuttlerace may be bodily adjusted with respect to the needle, so as to prevent the beak or hook of the shuttle from striking the needle.

My improvements will first be fully described, and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved shuttle-race and shuttle therein. Fig. 2 represents a section on line w 00, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section on line g y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 represents a section on the line a a, Fig. 5. Fig. 6

3 5 represents a side View of the invention as adjustably secured to the bed of the machine.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line zz, Fig. 6.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawings, having reference to Figs.

1, 2, and 3, a represents the main portion of a circular shuttle-race, said portion having holes it for screws,which attach it to the usual fixed support for the shuttle-race. On one side of 4. 5 the inner periphery of the race is formed a lip or flange, c, which constitutes one of the guides for the shuttled, one side of the latter bearing against said flange. To the opposite side of the race is adj ustably secured a second flange,

0', corresponding in its internal diameter to the fixed flange and arranged to bear against the opposite side of the shuttle. The flange c is secured to the race by screwsff,the shanks of which pass through holes in an offset or cnlarged portion of the flange c and enter tapped 5 sockets in the race, said holes being larger than the screw-shanks, so that the flange 0 can move laterally on said shanks.

The screws have enlarged heads, against which the flange c is pressed by springs g g, 6 interposed between the race and the flange c; or, if preferred, a single fiat spring may be used for the same purpose instead of two spiral springs, as here shown.

It will be seen that by turning the screws 1" 6 f out or in the distance between the fixed flange c and the movable flange 0 may be decreased or diminished, the springs g holding the movable ilange at all times in close contact with the heads of the screws f f. The flanges c 0 0 can therefore be kept bearing properly on the shuttle, and all wear of the rubbing parts can be readily compensated for.

I prefer to provide the adjustable flange c with a set-screw, rtworking in a tapped socket 7 in said flange between the screws f f and bearing at its inner end against the race without entering the latter. The object of said setscrew is to prevent the adjustable flange c from being crowded too closely against the shuttle by the screws f f, the setscrew, when adjusted to the proper point, constituting a stop,which limits the movement of the adjustable flange toward the race.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown the flange c as formed on a part, b, of the race substantially corresponding in form or outline to the main part a. The part bis secured and made adjustable with respect to the main portion a by means of screws 6, which pass through 0 holes formed in part Z) and are tapped into screws h, having a screw-threaded connection with the main portion and bearing at their inner ends against the inner face of part Z), as clearly represented in Fig. 5. By turning 5 screws h in or out part Z may be allowed to be brought nearer to or be crowded farther from main portion a, screws 0 being employed for the purpose of securing the parts together after the proper adjustment thereof is had.

Heretofore much trouble has been caused by the wearing of the shuttle along its point of contact with the flanges of the race, the shuttle becoming loose in consequence of such wear and being made liable thereby to strike and break the needle. This liability can be prevented easily by the use of my above-described improvement, as will be readily seen.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown the shuttlerace as secured to its usual fixed support, 8, by means of screws Z, and in order to adjust the shuttle-race with respect to its support, and consequently with respect to the needle, so as to make certain that the shuttle-beak will take the loop from the needle and yet not come in contact with the latter, I provide screws 0, having a screw-threaded connection with main portion a, and adapted to bear at their inner ends against support s,whereby the shuttle-race may be adjusted with the utmost nicety nearer to or farther from said support 8 in much the same manner as screws i, Fig. 2, serve to regulate the position of flange c with respect to main portion a.

In my invention it is to be noticed that each of the flanges c c constitutes an essential part of the shuttle-race, which guides the shuttle or loop-taker in its rotary movements, so that flange 0 might be made stationary and flange 0 adjustable relatively thereto with precisely the same result, this construction differing from that in which an adjustable annular holder is provided, the function of which is to merely bear against the shuttle or loop-taker to hold it against the race, and not forming a part of the race or shuttle-guide.

I claim- 1. A circular race having a fixed shuttle guiding flange, a movable shuttle-guiding flange, springs g, interposed between the fixed and movable flanges, whereby said movable flange is pressed away from the fixed flange, and headed screws f, passing through holes formed in the movable-flange and tapped into the fixed flange, whereby the movable flange is adj nstably held against the pressure of said springs, substantially as set forth.

2. A shuttle-race having a fixed flange, a movable flange, c, springs g, interposed between the movable and fixed flanges to normally press the movable flange away from the fixed flange, headed screws f, passing through holes formed in the movable flange and tapped into the fixed flange to hold the movable flange against the pressure of spring 9, and a setscrew, 2', engaging atapped socket in the movable flange and bearing against afixed part of the race to limit the movement of the movable flange toward the fixed flange, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a circular shuttlerace having a fixed sh uttle-guiding flange and a movable shuttle-guiding flange, of devices, substantially as described, whereby the movable flange may be adjusted toward and from the fixed flange, the fixed support 8, screws Z, passing through the race and engaging tapped sockets in said fixed support, and screws 0, having a screw-threaded connection with the race and hearing at their inner ends against the fixed support, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of September, 1886.

JOHN H. GRIFFIN.

\Vitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, ARTHUR W. GnossLnY. 

